DAYTON, Tenn. — Nokian Tyres is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the workforce at its North American factory in Southeast Tennessee.
The factory team gathered last week to celebrate its growth from a 60-member launch group in spring 2019 to a workforce that consists of approximately 500 employees. In that time span, they’ve produced millions of tires, won awards for their sustainable operations and expanded their ranks eight times over — all while navigating a pandemic and a shifting global production landscape.
“It’s humbling to celebrate five years since our team first gathered,” says Dayton Factory Operations Director David Korda. “We are extremely proud of our colleagues and remain committed to helping them grow their career journeys, just as they are forming the foundation for our company’s growth.”
Nokian Tyres’ operations in Dayton, Tenn. are helping the company transform its presence in North America. The factory team assembles all-season and all-weather products for drivers in the United States and Canada, where the company is working to double sales.
Growth continues at the factory. This year Nokian Tyres is launching new production lines, expanding output, growing its light-truck tire capacity and opening a finished goods warehouse — all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to the Southeast Tennessee community.
“It’s hard to believe our team in Dayton formed five years ago,” said Nokian Tyres North America Human Resources Director Blake Markham. “We’ve been through so much as individuals and as a company. And through it all, our team has remained eager to learn and grow.”
The company has won awards for the factory’s culture and sustainability efforts. In 2021, Nokian Tyres earned Manufacturer of the Year honors from the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers’ Association. The company was the first in Rhea County to earn the Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Sustainable Performance, the state’s top environmental honor.
And Nokian Tyres has the only LEED v4 Silver-certified tire production building in the world, a complex that is partially powered by solar energy. The company is a member of the Tennessee Green Star Partnership, a corporate environmental leadership program offered by the State of Tennessee.
The company has set aggressive quality and safety standards at the Dayton Factory, where it has earned ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications.
Timeline: Nokian Tyres Dayton Factory
- Fall 2017 Groundbreaking of the factory site
- Spring 2019 Hiring of factory launch team
- Fall 2019 Grand opening
- Winter 2020 Start of commercial production
- Summer 2020 ISO 9001 certification-Summer 2021 Start of third and fourth production shifts; workforce doubles
- ISO 14001 certification
- January 2023 Capacity expansion, workforce increase announced
- May 2023 ISO 45001 certification
- June 2023 Completion of hiring process — more than 125 new employees
- Summer 2024 Completion of finished goods warehouse with capacity of 600,000 tires
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